Principles of Pastoral Administration

Counsels from the Spirit of Prophecy.

By Ellen G. White

I. Order and Organization

1. JERUSALEM CHURCH A MODEL FOR CHURCH ORGANIZATION.—The organization of the church at Jerusalem was to serve as a model for the or­ganization of churches in every other place where messengers of truth should win converts to the gospel. Those to whom was given the re­sponsibility of the general oversight of the church, were not to lord it over God's heritage, but, as wise shepherds, were to "feed the flock of God, . . . being ensamples to the flock"; and the deacons were to be "men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom." These men were to take their position unitedly on the side of right, and to maintain it with firm­ness and decision. Thus they would have a uniting influence upon the entire flock.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 91.

2. ORDER AND SYSTEM IN THE CONDUCT OF CHURCH AFFAIRS.—"God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." He requires that order and system be observed in the conduct of church affairs to-day, no less than in the days of old. He desires His work to be carried forward with thoroughness and exactness, so that He may place upon it the seal of His approval.—/bid., p. 96.

The order that was maintained in the early Christian church, made it possible for them to move forward solidly, as a well-disciplined army, clad with the armor of God. The com­panies of believers, though scattered over a large territory, were all members of one body; all moved in concert, and in-harmony with one another.—Ibid., pp. 95, 96.

3. ORGANIZING NEW CONVERTS.—AS an impor­tant factor in the spiritual growth of the new converts, the apostles were careful to surround them with the safeguards of gospel order. . . . Officers were appointed in each church, and proper order and system were established for the conduct of all the affairs pertaining to the spiritual welfare of the believers.

This was in harmony with the gospel plan of uniting in one body all believers in Christ, and this plan Paul was careful to follow throughout his ministry. Those who in any place were by his labor led to accept Christ as the Saviour, were, at the proper time, organized into a church. Even when the believers were but few in number, this was done. The Christians were thus taught to help one another, remembering the promise, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

And Paul did not forget the churches thus established. The care of these churches rested on his mind as an ever-increasing burden. How­ever small a company might be, it was never­theless the object of his constant solicitude. —Ibid., pp. 185, 186.

4. CAREFUL TRAINING OF NEW CONVERTS.—Ill all their missionary endeavors, Paul and Bar­nabas sought to follow Christ's example of will­ing sacrifice and faithful, earnest labor for souls. . . . And with the sowing of the seed, the apos­tles were careful to give to all who took their stand for the gospel, practical instruction that was of untold value. .

When men of promise and ability were con­verted, as in the case of Timothy, Paul and Barnabas sought earnestly to show them the necessity of laboring in the vineyard. . . . This careful training of new converts was an impor­tant factor in the remarkable success that at­tended Paul and Barnabas as they preached the gospel in heathen lands.—Ibid., pp. 186, 187.

MEETING WITH LITTLE COMPANIES.—The apostle felt that he was to a large extent re­sponsible for the spiritual welfare of those con­verted under his labors. His desire for them was that they might increase in a knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He had sent. Often in his ministry he would meet with little companies of men and women who loved Jesus, and bow with them in prayer, ask­ing God to teach them how to maintain a living connection with Him. Often he took counsel with them as to the best methods of giving to others the light of gospel truth. And often, when separated from those for whom he had thus labored, he pleaded with God to keep them from evil, and help them to be earnest, active p. 262.

5. URGE FAITHFULNESS IN STEWARDSHIP.—Let the church appoint pastors or elders who are devoted to the Lord Jesus, and let these men see that officers are chosen who will attend faithfully to the work of gathering in the tithe. . . Let the elders and officers of the church follow the direction of the Sacred Word, and urge upon their members the necessity of faith­fulness in the payment of pledges, tithes, and offerings.

Frequently those who receive the truth are among the poor of this world; but they should not make this an excuse for neglecting those duties which devolve upon them in view of the precious light they have received. They should not allow poverty to prevent them from laying up a treasure in heaven. . . . It is the mo­tive with which they work, not the amount they do, that makes their offering valuable in the sight of heaven.—Counsels on Stewardship, pp. 106, 107.

6. GIVE THE PEOPLE THE WORD OF GOD.—We do not want to lose sight of the peculiar sacred­ness of this mission of ministering in word and in doctrine to the people. It is the work of the minister to speak the words of truth to the people, solemn, sacred truth. Some form the habit of relating anecdotes in their discourses, which have a tendency to amuse and remove from the mind of the hearer the sacredness of the word which they are handling. Such should consider that they are not giving to the people the word of the Lord. Too many illustrations do not have a correct influence; they belittle the sacred dignity that should ever be main­tained in the presentation of the Word of God to the people.—Evangelism, pp. 208, 209.

Character and Methods

1. ADMINISTER PRINCIPLES OF PIETY AND JUS­TICE.—The same principles of piety and justice that were to guide the rulers among God's people in the time of Moses and of David, were also to be followed by those given the oversight of the newly organized church of God in the gospel dispensation. In the work of set­ting things in order in all the churches, and ordaining suitable men to act as officers, the apostles held to the high standards of leadership outlined in the Old Testament Scriptures. They maintained that he who is called to stand in a position of leading responsibility in the church, "must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers."—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 95.

2. KEEP SELF IN THE BACKGROUND.—Resolutely refusing to display human wisdom or to exalt self, they [ministers] will accomplish a work that will withstand the assaults of Satan. Many souls will be turned from darkness to light, and many churches will be established. Men will be converted, not to the human instrumentality, but to Christ. Self will be kept in the back­ground; Jesus only, the Man of Calvary, will appear.—Ibid., p. 278.

3. TRUST MOST FULLY WHEN DISCOURAGE­MENT THREATENS.—Satan's craft is most success­fully used against those who are depressed. When discouragement threatens to overwhelm the minister, let him spread out before God his necessities. It was when the heavens were as brass over Paul that he trusted most fully in God. More than most men, he knew the mean­ing of affliction; but listen to his triumphant cry. . . : "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen." .. . It is by seeing Him who is invisible that strength and vigor of soul are gained, and the power of earth over mind and character is broken.—Ibid., p. 363.

4. MINGLE FREELY WITH THE PEOPLE.—A pastor should mingle freely with the people for whom he labors, that by becoming acquainted with them, he may know how to adapt his teaching to their needs. When a minister has preached a sermon, his work has but just be­gun. There is personal work for him to do. He should visit the people in their homes, talking and praying with them in earnestness and hu­mility. There are families who will never be reached by the truths of God's Word unless the stewards of His grace enter their homes and point them to the higher way. But the hearts of those who do this work must throb in unison with the heart of Christ.—Ibid., pp. 363, 364.

Many a laborer fails in his work because he does not come close to those who most need his help. With the Bible in hand, he should seek in a courteous manner to learn the objections which exist in the minds of those who are be­ginning to inquire, "What is truth?" Carefully and tenderly should he lead and educate them, as pupils in a school.—Evangelism, p. 484.

5. GIVE UNDIVIDED INTEREST TO THE LORD'S WORK.—Some who have labored in the ministry have failed of attaining success because they have not given their undivided interest to the Lord's work. Ministers should have no en­grossing interests aside from the great work of leading souls to the Saviour. . . Ministers can­not do acceptable work for God, and at the same time carry the burden of large personal business enterprises. Such a division of interest dims their spiritual perception.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 365.

6. DEAL WITH TRANSGRESSORS TENDERLY.—The Saviour's manner of dealing with Peter had a lesson for him and for his brethren. It taught them to meet the transgressor with pa­tience, sympathy, and forgiving love. Although Peter had denied his Lord, the love which Jesus bore him never faltered. Just such love should the undershepherd feel for the sheep and lambs committed to his care. Remembering his own weakness and failure, Peter was to deal with his flock as tenderly as Christ had dealt with him.—The Desire of Ages, p. 815.
 
7. WIN HEARTS BY LOVE.—Christ drew the hearts of His hearers to Him by the manifesta­tion of His love, and then, little by little, as they were able to bear it, He unfolded to them the great truths of the kingdom. We also must learn to adapt our labors to the condition of the people—to meet men where they are.—Evange­lism, p. 484.
 
8. WATCH FOR SOULS AS THEY THAT MUST GIVE ACCOUNT.—The messengers should watch for souls as they that must give account. Theirs must be a life of toil and anguish of spirit, while the weight of the precious but often-wounded cause of Christ rests upon them. They will have to lay aside worldly interests and com­forts and make it their first object to do all in their power to advance the cause of present truth and save perishing souls.

They will also have a rich reward. In their crowns of rejoicing those who are rescued by them and finally saved will shine as stars for­ever and ever.—Early Writings, p. 61.

9. TEACH AS CHRIST TAUGHT.—God's Word is true philosophy, true science. Human opinions and sensational preaching amount to very little. Those who are imbued with the Word of God will teach it in the same simple way that Christ taught it. The world's greatest Teacher used the simplest language and the plainest symbols.—Counsels to Parents and Teachers, p. 433.
 
10. SEEK TO RECLAIM THOSE WHO STRAY.— The parable of the good shepherd represents the responsibility of every minister and of every Christian who has accepted a position as teacher of the children and youth. The one that has strayed from the fold is not followed with harsh words and a whip but with winning invitations to return. . . . The shepherd follows the sheep and lambs that have caused him the greatest anxiety and have engrossed his sympathies most deeply. . . . This is the lesson that the under-shepherds are to learn—success in bringing the Sheep and lambs back to the fold.—Ibid., p. 198.
 
11. USE NEITHER HARSHNESS NOR FLATTERY.— Pastors are needed—faithful shepherds—who will not flatter God's people, nor treat them harshly, but who will feed them with the bread of life—men who in their lives feel daily the converting power of the Holy Spirit, and who cherish a strong, unselfish love toward those for whom they labor.—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 526.
 
12. PAINSTAKING EFFORT FOR ERRING MEN AND WOMEN.—The church on earth is composed of erring men and women, who need patient, painstaking effort that they may be trained and disciplined to work with acceptance in this life, and in the future life to be crowned with glory and immortality.—Ibid.

III. Dangers and Problems

1. BLINDED BY SELF-CONFIDENCE.—Men who move in accordance with their own strong traits of character, refusing to yoke up with others who have had a long experience in the work of God, will become blinded by self-confidence, unable to discern between the false and the true. It is not safe for such ones to be chosen as leaders in the church; for they would follow their own judgment and plans, regardless of the judgment of their brethren. It is easy for the enemy to work through those who, themselves needing counsel at every step, undertake the guardianship of souls in their own strength, without having learned the lowliness of Christ. —Ibid., p. 279.

2. PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE SELF-WILLED. —The church had been properly organized, and officers had been appointed to act as min­isters and deacons. But there were some, self-willed and impetuous, who refused to be sub­ordinate to those who held positions of author­ity in the church. They claimed not only the right of private judgment, but that of publicly urging their views upon the church. In view of this, Paul called the attention of the Thessalo­nians to the respect and deference due to those who had been chosen to occupy positions of authority in the church.—Ibid., pp. 261, 262.

3. UNDUE ATTACHMENT TO ONE MINISTER.—He who sends forth gospel workers as His am­bassadors is dishonored when there is mani­fested among the hearers so strong an attach­ment to some favorite minister that there is an unwillingness to accept the labors of some other teacher. The Lord sends help to His people, not always as they may choose, but as they need; for men are short-sighted, and cannot discern what is for their highest good. It is sel­dom that one minister has all the qualifications necessary to perfect a church in all the require­ments of Christianity; therefore God often sends to them other ministers, each possessing some qualifications in which the others were deficient. The church should gratefully accept these servants of Christ, even as they would ac­cept the Master Himself.—Ibid., pp. 277, 278.

4. CHECKING FANATICISM.—I saw the necessity of the messengers, especially, watching and checking all fanaticism wherever they might see it rise. . . I have seen the danger of the mes­sengers running off from the important points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated to unite the flock and sanctify the soul. Satan will here take every possible advantage to injure the cause.—Early Writings, p. 63.

5. TACTFUL WORK IN THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST NEEDED.—There is tactful work for the under-shepherd to do as he is called to meet aliena­tion, bitterness, envy, and jealousy in the church, and he will need to labor in the spirit of Christ to set things in order. Faithful warn­ings are to be given, sins rebuked, wrongs made right, not only by the minister's work in the pulpit, but by personal labor. The wayward heart may take exception to the message, and the servant of God may be misjudged and crit­icized. Let him then remember that "the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."—The Acts of the Apostles, p. 526.

6. DEALING WITH DISSENSION.—When dissen­sion arose in a local church, as later it did arise in Antioch and elsewhere, and the believers were unable to come to an agreement among themselves, such matters were not permitted to create a division in the church, but were re­ferred to a general council of the entire body of believers, made up of appointed delegates from the various local churches, with the apostles and elders in positions of leading responsibility. Thus the efforts of Satan to attack the church in isolated places, were met by concerted ac­tion on the part of all; and the plans of the enemy to disrupt and destroy were thwarted.­Ibid., p. 96.

7. JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY WITH IMPARTIALITY.—When choosing seventy elders to share with him the responsibilities of leadership, Moses was careful to select, as his helpers, men pos­sessing dignity, sound judgment, and experience. In his charge to these elders at the time of their ordination, he outlined some of the qualifica­tions that fit a man to be a wise ruler in the church. "Hear the causes between your breth­ren," said Moses, "and judge righteously be­tween every man and his brother, and the stran­ger that is with him. Ye shall not respect per­sons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's."—Ibid., p. 94.


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By Ellen G. White

October 1957

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